Duration of stay put suspension

Andrew Dismore: London Fire Brigade (LFB) and National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) have called out the extremely lengthy periods of time that buildings have required interim fire safety measures to address the suspension of stay put advice. Yet in response to question 2019/20477 you stated that LFB does not collect information on how long a building has had stay put suspended, depriving LFB and others of a useful source of information. Will you take steps to rectify this and record the data?

The Mayor: The Government note ‘Advice for Building Owners of Multi-storey,Multi-occupied Residential Buildings’, published in January 2020, provides guidance for Responsible Persons and building owners with regard to informing Fire and Rescue Services of the introduction of interim measures.
London Fire Brigade (LFB) has seen an increase in the level of engagement from both Responsible Persons and building owners since the publication of the consolidated guidance. The LFB is are taking steps to record this information by making provision to record the date at which they were notified of these measures being introduced.
This will enable LFB to continue to monitor the length of time interim measures have been in place.

London Fire Brigade (LFB) Control to incident commander communication

Andrew Dismore: What progress has been made on providing a direct communication link between Control and the Incident Commander?

The Mayor: There continues to be a direct communications link between London Fire Brigade Control and the Incident Commander (IC) via Airwave digital radios. On fire engines these radios are vehicle-mounted, whereas officers have handheld digital radios for this purpose. The revised Fire Survival Guidance (FSG) policy directs Control and the IC to a designated Airwave radio channel to facilitate the uninterrupted passing of FSG information between them. An FSG technology solution project is underway to develop an electronic system allowing the simultaneous recording and updating of FSG call information and actions being taken to resolve those calls. Control and ICs will be able to update this system in real time ensuring that there is a single electronic reference source for all FSG information. This solution is currently in development, with rollout anticipated by December 2020.

20 mph speed limits on London's roads (3)

Caroline Russell: What percentage, and how many kilometres of London’s total road network had a 20 mph speed limit when you entered office, and what percentage will have this limit by May 2020?

The Mayor: In June 2016 approximately 28 per cent of London’s roads had a 20mph speed limit which equates to 4,784 km of carriageway*.
Currently, as of March 2020, approximately 42 per cent of London’s roads operate with a 20mph speed limit, which equates to 7,430 km of carriageway*. This includes the successful delivery of 20mph speed limits across Transport for London’s road network in Central London, in line with my Vision Zero Action Plan commitments
I do not expect this number to change before May 2020.
Detailed queries relating to the speed limit on borough roads are best directed to individual London councils, who will hold more detailed information about their own road networks.
*the lengths quoted refer to carriageway length in each direction

Air Quality

Leonie Cooper: What further improvements to air quality in Wandsworth do you expect, when the ULEZ is expanded to the north and south circulars in 2021?

The Mayor: As a result of the tightening of the Low Emission Zone standard for heavy vehicles in October 2020 and expanding the Ultra Low Emission Zone to the north and south circulars in October 2021, there is forecast to be a 27 per cent reduction in harmful nitrogen oxide (NOx) from road transport in Wandsworth. There is also forecast to be a 20 per cent reduction in particulate matter (PM2.5) from vehicle exhausts. It is estimated that only 5 per cent of all road links within Wandsworth will still exceed the NO2 annual mean Limit Value of 40ug/m3 in 2021.

Sutton Tram Extension

Leonie Cooper: TfL have now confirmed which scheme they prefer for the tram extension to Sutton. Is a funding package now in place, with contributions from TfL, Merton, Sutton and central government, for this much-needed, long-awaited scheme?

The Mayor: A funding package for a tram extension to Sutton is not currently in place. Transport for London (TfL) has been working with the London boroughs of Sutton and Merton to explore options and make the case for funding for the scheme. There are current commitments from TfL, Merton and Sutton which total approximately £115m, but a significant funding gap remains. A contribution from central Government is not currently in place but funding pots are expected to soon be available from which contributions can be sought.
To fully cover the amount required, more funding will be needed from both local and national sources and I will continue to seek opportunities to secure this funding.

British Gas Meters

Joanne McCartney: British Gas have recently raised their minimum charge on their pay-as-you-go meters from £1 to £5, which is increasing hardship for some on low and insecure incomes in London. Will you raise this issue with British Gas and urge them to lower the minimum charge?

The Mayor: In February, British Gas announced that they had listened to stakeholder views and had reversed their decision to reduce the minimum charge and it will revert to £1.

New 20 mph speed limits (2)

Caroline Russell: Thank you for your response to my question 2018/5192. You said you have no expectation for the police to provide additional enforcement beyond their routine activity to achieve compliance. However, it seems police have taken proactive efforts to support your new central London 20 mph speed limits. This is welcome, so will you encourage the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) to extend this approach wherever 20 mph limits apply?

The Mayor: The Metropolitan Police Service’s (MPS) Roads and Transport Policing Command (RTPC) carried out a week of activity focusing on speed awareness across the whole of London, and while it coincided with the introduction of 20 mph on the Transport for London Road Network (TLRN), activity was not specific to these roads or the 20mph speed limit.
As mentioned in my response to 2018/5192, The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) enforces 20mph limits in the same way as all other speed limits. They deploy resources to locations where risk is greatest, and in a way that maximizes the deterrent effect. In 2018/19 the MPS took enforcement action on 157,000 speed offences, of which over 35,000 were for speeding on 20mph limit roads.
The enforcement of speeding and the educating of offenders are important aspects of my Vision Zero commitment to eliminate death and serious injury from London's transport network, and Transport for London (TfL) and the MPS have several initiatives to tackle this.
The MPS will introduce a new dedicated speed enforcement team in April 2020 which will enforce speed limits across the capital, including the 20 mph limit on the TLRN. £10m has been allocated for safety cameras in the TfL Business Plan, and installation of these will begin in 2020/21. TfL is also working with the MPS to delegate traffic enforcement powers to Police Community Support Officers, significantly boosting the number of officers who can enforce speeding.

Proposed ferry service between Rotherhithe to Canary Wharf

Caroline Pidgeon: Will this new ferry service use either hybrid or fully electric powered ferries?

The Mayor: Transport for London (TfL) is still investigating the most appropriate option for this proposed ferry service, including matters such as propulsion. In line with the aspirations set out in my Transport Strategy, I expect the new service to be as environmentally friendly as practicable.
Based on its current analysis, TfL anticipates a hybrid solution where a generator provides power during emergency or extraordinary operations, but batteries are used for power as much as practicable. Further work is required, however, before a final decision and design.
TfL is planning to consult on the proposals in summer 2020, and will provide more detail on matters such as propulsion at that time.

Piecemeal delivery of Quietways

Caroline Russell: A constituent reports that cycling enhancements to three crossings of the planned Quietway 21 (Q21) in Ham, between Richmond Park and Teddington Lock, were carried out in 2019, but no further infrastructure improvements have happened. Sections of Q21 are now shown on the Transport for London Cycle map as a disconnected route. When will a safe Quietway route that links these sections into a complete route be delivered?

The Mayor: Transport for London (TfL) is working the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames to ensure that the entire route between Richmond Park and Teddington Lock meets Cycleway standards, which were defined by the cycling quality criteria introduced in 2019.
The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames is leading on the delivery of this route, including enhancements to the section along Ham Gate Avenue, Ham Common and Lock Road, designs for which are currently in progress. TfL expects construction to begin later this summer.
Once construction is complete and wayfinding is in place, the Cycleway will provide a continuous connection through Ham between Richmond Park and Teddington Lock.

TfL Internal Audit IA 17780

Caroline Pidgeon: The documents released under Question 2019/17339 have an 8 June 2017 email from a senior TfL health and safety manager to First Group Tram Operations Limited which states: “It might be prudent to arrange a short pre-start meeting between [TfL] [TOL] and the auditors to agree that and establish the evidence which all parties think would be necessary to achieve a successful outcome.” Do you think it is acceptable for a TfL health and safety officer leading a safety audit of a contractor to suggest such a meeting and do you have confidence in the findings ofIA 17780?

The Mayor: I am advised by Transport for London (TfL) that it is standard practice to hold a pre-start or opening meeting. This is documented in TfL’s procedures. The purpose of such meetings is to ensure all understand the audit scope, what people and evidence will need to be made available during the audit, and to identify any potential issues such as competence requirements or access. ISO 190011, International Register of Certificated Auditors (IRCA) and the Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors identify this as good practice. That TfL Internal Audit followed accepted good practice does provide confidence in the findings of the audit.

Low Emission Zone (2)

Leonie Cooper: What level of compliance are you anticipating in the first year of the strengthened Low Emission Zone?

The Mayor: The supporting information document to the consultation on the strengthening of the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) standard shows that at the end of the first year of the strengthened LEZ standards compliance for HGVs and coaches London-wide is forecast to be 95 per cent and 94 per cent respectively.

Multiple fire survival guidance (FSG) calls

Andrew Dismore: Does the London Fire Brigade have a procedure for dealing with more FSG calls than it has Control operators on duty at any one time?

The Mayor: Dealing with multiple Fire Survival Guidance (FSG)calls is a key component of the new FSG policy. At present, London Fire Brigade (LFB) has well-rehearsed overflow arrangements with North West Fire Control, who would start to take 999 calls (including FSG calls) when LFB Control starts to receive a high volume of calls. To support these overflow arrangements, a new National Talk Group can be used for sharing risk critical information between Control rooms when they start to receive calls on behalf of LFB (or any other Fire and Rescue Service) in addition to normal ‘buddy arrangements.’ Furthermore, the on-duty Operations Manager and duty Senior Operations Manager will liaise closely with BT to manage the overflow of calls. For additional resilience, fire officers would also be mobilised into the London Operations Centre in Merton (or the fall-back Control room in Stratford) to support Control officers when handling a large number of FSG calls.

Fire Cadets

Andrew Dismore: Will you meet your commitment to ensure there is a fire cadet scheme in every borough by the end of the current financial year?

The Mayor: Yes. Cadet schemes have been opening across over the last few months and the final schemes are currently on schedule to be open by the end of March.

Government review of stay put

Andrew Dismore: What participation does the London Fire Brigade have in the Government’s review of stay put and mass rescue operations and when is this project expected to produce a report and / or recommendations?

The Mayor: Fire and Rescue Services’ (FRS) involvement in the Government review is being coordinated through the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC). London Fire Brigade is not part of the FRS steering group for this review, but will be providing information and subject matter expertise in support of the review when requested. There are no published timelines for reporting at present.

Dial-a-Ride (2)

Keith Prince: What is TfL doing to address Dial-a-Ride’s problems and reverse the situation?

The Mayor: In 2018/2019 Dial-a-Ride exceeded its target of 89 per centof requests scheduled, achieving 90 per centof requests scheduled over the year. This was broadly in line with its performance in previous years. The service is also on target to exceed its target of 89 per centof requests scheduled for the year 2019/20.
Transport for London (TfL) is working on a programme to modernise door-to-door services such as Dial-a-Ride, while looking to continue enhancing day-to-day performance.
This includes working closely with delivery partners such as Community Transport groups to provide more journeys and improve scheduling efficiency, as well London Councils which manages Taxicard on behalf of the London boroughs, to make door-to-door customers aware of all the accessible public transport options available to them.
TfL is also in the process of procuring a new booking and scheduling system with the aim of eventually creating a one-stop shop for Assisted Transport Services. This is initially focused on enhancing the Dial-a-Ride service through the introduction of multiple self-service features, aimed at improving efficiency and the customer experience as well as more efficient scheduling of journeys. A programme to replace the Dial-a-Ride vehicle fleet with new, low emission vehicles is underway, with over 200 new Euro 6 low floor minibuses ordered to date.

Car Free Days

Susan Hall: What work has been undertaken to assess the impact of your planned car free days on London's economy and its potential cost to London's businesses?

The Mayor: An independent evaluation report was commissioned for the Central London (Reimagine) Event, where 550 attendees and 67 local businesses were surveyed, this included some analysis of economic impact.
Where possible local companies were used as suppliers for the event and we estimate that 95 per centof the total event budget was put back into the local economy. In addition, on the day it is estimated that visitors to the event spent an additional £765,100 with local businesses in the event area.
Most local businesses reported an increase in footfall and/or sales on the day and a majority support repeating the event in 2020.
Large Car Free Day events tend to take place on a Sunday to minimise disruption to businesses.

Migration salary Impact in London (1)

Leonie Cooper: Does City Hall have data on the number of Londoners paid below the Government’s proposed £25,600 salary threshold for its points-based migration system?

The Mayor: GLA Economics recently published research on the potential impacts of new immigration policies in London, drawing on data provided by the Office for National Statistics:
https://www.london.gov.uk/business-and-economy-publications/potential-impacts-skills-based-immigration-policies-london
Current Issues Note 58 explores the potential impact of different salary thresholds levels – including a £27,000 and £24,000 general minimum salary threshold – for jobs that meet an RQF 3 skills threshold. Appendix C provides an estimate of the share of jobs in London which meet the RQF level 3 skills threshold and are paid below these salary thresholds.
It is important to recognise that this research does not offer definitive judgments about every aspect of the Government’s proposed new immigration system. For example, it does not take into account exceptions to the general minimum salary threshold for new entrants or public sector occupations.

Solar potential on the Transport for London estate

Caroline Russell: Transport for London (TfL) has carried out detailed studies of the total solar potential across its estate, including mapping the total potential across all TfL-owned rooftops, and studies on larger land holdings and trackside areas. When will these studies be made publicly available?

The Mayor: In 2019 Transport for London (TfL) completed solar mapping of its estate and subsequently commissioned detailed feasibility studies on those rooftops, land holdings and trackside areas that were identified as being most suitable in terms of solar potential.
A report summarising the outputs of this work will be made publicly available in summer 2020.

Fare Evasion on the Buses

David Kurten: How many commuters have been caught fare-dodging on London’s buses over the last three years?

The Mayor: Fare evasion costs Transport for London (TfL) £116m a year, which is money that should be invested into the network. Tackling this behaviour remains a priority for TfL.
The following table provides data on the number of customers who have been reported on suspicion of fare evasion.
Year
Penalty Fares issued
Number of Irregularity Reports submitted for consideration for prosecution
2016/17
33,458
25,903
2017/18
34,423
24,256
2018/19
40,870
27,879
2019/20* (figures to the end of period 12)
35,201
21,482

Targets for school exclusions

Len Duvall: How many fewer pupils does the Violence Reduction Unit and its partners hope to have been expelled from secondary schools in London by the end of 2020 compared with 2019?

The Mayor: We need to reverse the trend that has seen a rise in permanent exclusions in England since 2012/13. We know it affects the most vulnerable children in society and risks abandoning them, damaging their life prospects, and bringing them into contact with violence – either as victims of it or as perpetrators.
Reducing exclusions is vital but it is a long-term project. I am using all my influence to advocate for reducing school exclusions. The VRU is working with experts and existing networks to develop policy and practice while investing in an inclusive schools programme which is reaching 200 schools. This has had positive results elsewhere – most notably in Scotland.
But I have no direct power over education or schools in London. The VRU’s role is an influencing one, using evidence and insight to inform an evidence base to advocate for a systemic change approach on exclusions.

Fuel Poverty Action Plan

Susan Hall: How many London boroughs have implemented the Fuel Poverty Action Plan?

The Mayor: The Fuel Poverty Action Plan sets out what is needed to help lift Londoners out of fuel poverty. It sets out actions that I, boroughs, other key stakeholders and Government should undertake.
A number of boroughs have been active in delivering the Warmer Homes Advice Service, funded by me, and in promoting my Warmer Homes programme. Borough elected members and energy, public health and social care officers are represented on the Fuel Poverty Partnership through London Councils, the Association of Local Energy Officers London, the Association of Directors of Public Health London, and the London Association of Directors of Adult Social Services and are working with me to lobby government for more action to tackle fuel poverty in London. My officers are also working with boroughs on the London Boroughs Private Rented Sector Partnership to tackle energy inefficient homes in that tenure.

London Motor Cab Proprietor’s Association (LMCPA)

David Kurten: How many times have you or anyone from TfL met with the London Motor Cab Proprietor’s Association in the last four years, and will you undertake to meet with them regularly in the future?

The Mayor: Transport for London (TfL) regularly engages with its stakeholders and where there are issues that require a meeting is happy to consider making arrangements on a case-by-case basis. Representatives from various areas of TfL have met with the London Motor Cab Proprietor’s Association (LMPCA) in the past and have liaised with them on matters such as the taxi age limits consultation, the card payment mandate for taxis and other ad hoc issues. However, TfL does not have a log of every meeting that has taken place in the past four years.
I understand TfL will be meeting with you and the LMPCA to discuss the Taxi Delicensing scheme soon.

Resilience to extreme weather

Leonie Cooper: London has been spared the worst of recent flooding but is likely to bear the brunt of any heatwaves this summer. What steps have you taken in the last year to ensure the GLA is prepared and are you also working with NHS colleagues on their preparations?

The Mayor: In the last year, I have kept Londoners informed during extreme heat events by sharing messaging at public locations such as bus stops. I am working with Public Health England and other partners to identify and develop a network of cool spots for Londoners to take refuge during heatwaves. I have confirmed London as the world’s first ‘National Park City’, and the green infrastructure I have funded will contribute to keeping the city cool.
I have installed 28 water fountains with the Zoological Society of London, and I have partnered with Thames Water to install over 100 more across busy and accessible areas of London, of which 41 have been installed to date. I have also supported the Refill London scheme which now has over 3,500 refill points across the city. I have piloted an assessment of overheating risk in care homes and have also commissioned guidance for schools on adapting to London’s changing climate including heatwaves and also on minimising the heating impact of new development on the surrounding environment.

Cycle Superhighways

David Kurten: What do you plan to spend on constructing and installing cycle superhighways, cycle quiet-ways and other cycle routes in the financial year 2020/21?

The Mayor: I am very proud of the progress I have made in improving cycling for Londoners, which includes a significant expansion of the Cycleways network, and recently achieved my pledge to triple the amount of protected space for cyclists since 2016.
Transport for London (TfL) has recently completed construction of schemes including Cycleway 34 between Acton and Wood Lane, and construction is currently underway on a number of significant new routes, including Cycleway 4 from Tower Bridge to Greenwich, and Cycleway 9 at Kew Bridge. In total in 2019/20, TfL will have spent in the region of £140 million supporting cycling in London.
TfL plans to spend £170 million on cycling in 2020/21, with £65 million of that allocated to new Cycleway routes. The pace of delivery will continue at its current rate, with the planned completion of routes including Cycleway 38 between Finsbury Park and Highbury Fields, commencement of construction for a number of new routes including the Cycleway between Barking and Barking Riverside, and a comprehensive programme of smaller high-quality schemes, which will all continue to develop the network over the next financial year.

Modernisation of pelican crossings

Caroline Russell: A constituent has written to me concerned about the safety of pelican crossings. Two pedestrians in London have been killed crossing these during the flashing green crossing phase in the past three years. I understand that there are 847 of these in London, with 167 on the Transport for London road network (TLRN). How will you make these crossings safer?

The Mayor: The Department for Transport removed pelican crossings from their list of approved designs for signalised crossings in 2016.
The last pelican crossing to be installed on the Transport for London (TfL) Road Network was in January 2012. Some London boroughs continued to choose pelicans as the design for crossings on their roads, and the last new pelican site was installed in London in February 2015.
London has a legacy of pelican crossings which are gradually being replaced through various investment and modernisation programmes. TfL will be upgrading at least 40 in 2020/21, not including those that are part of wider TfL investment projects or borough schemes.
TfL takes a risk-based approach to the prioritisation of investment funding, and its Vision Zero policy places a high priority on improving locations on the road network where risk is highest.

BYD (1)

Tony Devenish: TfL is buying 80% of their electric buses from BYD. Based on the evidence of BYD’s electric buses’ performance so far in London and – where they are in use – around the world, how confident are you that relying so heavily on one provider is the right choice?

The Mayor: While BYD is a leading provider of single and double-deck electric buses to London’s bus operators, the market is attracting more suppliers and offering greater choice. Transport for London expects to see competition continue to increase and bring down the unit price of vehicles, making the move to a zero-emission fleet more economical.
There are currently 280 electric buses in London and this will increase to 2,000 in 2025. Given this, there is plenty of scope for new suppliers to contribute and help clean up London’s air.

Operational risk database (ORD) review

Andrew Dismore: How many ORD entries for high rise premises have been reviewed since June 2017, and how many have been found to require further information?

The Mayor: 4,256 residential high-rise buildings have a premises risk assessment (PRA), of which 4,013 (94 percent) have been reviewed since the 14 June 2017. Not every building (or high-rise building) requires an Operational Risk Database (ORD) entry. The need for an ORD record is determined by the Brigade’s agreed ‘premises risk assessment’ (LFB policy 800). Following the PRA review, 1,300 ORD records have been updated.

Improving TfL Customer Service

Jennette Arnold: What measures is TfL putting in place to improve its customer service to ensure that it is a listening organisation that responds professionally to issues raised when things go wrong?

The Mayor: Complaints and other forms of feedback, such as customer surveys, are critical to understanding how Transport for London (TfL) is performing and where it can do better in the future.
Complaints are captured centrally, with details shared daily with the relevant part of TfL for review and resolution. Safety-related complaints are acted on immediately. Customer complaints and other feedback (e.g., social media postings) are discussed as part of the daily review of operational performance. This ensures that feedback reaches the operational teams quickly, so that improvements can be made.
Sometimes specific issues can be resolved immediately; however, often the feedback helps to identify problem areas that require a more comprehensive improvement plan. A good example is current work to improve real-time information during disruption, a known customer pain-point, which involves improvements to digital information, on-network information, and support from operation staff.
Complaint trends, together with customer satisfaction surveys and mystery-shopping are used to monitor longer term performance and areas of strategic focus.

London Fire Brigade (LFB) Control room relocation

Andrew Dismore: What is the average time taken from the decision being made to relocate from Merton Control to Stratford Control, and the fallback centre being fully operational?

The Mayor: Once the decision is taken to relocate Control from Merton to the fall-back location at Stratford, North West Fire Control (as our ‘buddy’ Control) will be informed and will take 999 emergency calls on behalf of London Fire Brigade. The Control team will then be taken on blue lights to Stratford (approximately 40 mins drive under blue light conditions). It is estimated that it would take approximately one hour from the decision to relocate being made to being able to receive calls and mobilise resources from Stratford. The fall-back Control room at Stratford is always immediately available for use in this way – either planned or unplanned.

Silvertown Tunnel (3)

Andrew Boff: The Silvertown Tunnel will cost a billion pounds, raised from tolling Blackwall and Silvertown. Have you and TfL ever sat down and worked out what you could achieve, in terms of greenhouse gas emissions reduction, and air quality improvements, if you tolled the Blackwall Tunnel enough to remove congestion, and invested the money in cycling, walking and public transport instead?

The Mayor: The Silvertown Tunnel scheme has been demonstrated to be the best solution to the well-known problems at Blackwall Tunnel. Transport for London’s (TfL’s) modelling demonstrates that introducing a charge at Blackwall Tunnel, without providing an alternative route, would have a limited impact in addressing the serious congestion on the approaches to the crossing, would not resolve the significant issues with poor reliability, and would not enable a step-change in cross-river bus connectivity.
Furthermore, simply increasing the charges further to try and reduce demand would result in the dispersal of a significant proportion of the traffic onto the surrounding network, thereby exacerbating congestion and poor air quality elsewhere. It would also have a significant adverse impact on the operation of adjacent river crossings, both of which have considerably less capacity than the Blackwall Tunnel.

Silvertown Tunnel (2)

Andrew Boff: Newham has the worst air quality in the UK - and some of the poorest communities in London. The Silvertown Tunnel will make already polluted air worse for thousands of Newham residents. How can you justify imposing this scheme on them, without their consent - and then making them pay for it through a new toll to cross the river?

The Mayor: We have made great strides in reducing pollution in Newham and across London. I have introduced the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) to tackle London’s toxic air, and next year it will be expanded to the North and South Circular, which will include most of Newham.
I have also introduced a scrappage scheme to make it easier for small businesses, charities and those on low incomes to meet those standards. From October this year, the London-wide Low Emission Zone for heavy vehicles will be brought to the same standard as the ULEZ and every bus in London will meet those standards. Transport for London (TfL) are accelerating its plans to electrify the bus fleet, with plans for more than 2,000 zero-emission buses by end of 2024/25.
Assessments to date conclude the tunnel will not impact on the ability of the Greater London Urban Area to achieve compliance with the Air Quality Directive, and will have an overall beneficial impact on air quality, particularly in locations of the poorest air quality.
Furthermore, TfL will carry out additional air quality monitoring in Newham before and after the tunnel opens. If necessary, mitigation will be developed should air quality be materially different from that predicted as a result of the tunnel.
Central to the Silvertown scheme is the introduction of a user charge for both the Silvertown and Blackwall tunnels in order to control demand and manage the impacts of the new crossing, and this could be set to incentivise cleaner journeys. Also, as part of my review of the scheme in 2016, TfL has committed to discounts for local residents on low incomes, as well as concessionary bus travel for local residents.

Crossrail (2)

Keith Prince: What are the projected costs for any further delay to the opening of the full Crossrail line?

The Mayor: Crossrail Ltd’s latest detailed cost forecasts show that the project costs are between £400 million and £650 million more than the revised funding agreed by the Mayor, Government and Transport for London (TfL) in December 2018. Discussions are continuing between TfL, the GLA and the Department for Transport in relation to the additional funding.

TfL accepting advertisements from Mayoral candidates

Caroline Pidgeon: What is TfL’s policy for permitting advertising by Mayoral candidates on its network, including advertisements for commercial activities by Mayoral candidates such as promotions of books?

The Mayor: Under clause 2.3 (n) of Transport for London’s (TfL) advertising policy, TfL will not accept advertising if it promotes a party political cause or electioneering.An advertising campaign for a book which promoted a party political cause or electioneering would therefore be rejected in accordance with the policy.
All other advertisements, including commercial activities outside of this specific clause, would be subject to the application of the policy in the usual way. Where the advertising promoted a commercial activity of a Mayoral candidate, TfL would consider whether it was consistent with its guidance on appropriate use of resources.

TfL's 2016 decision to stop conducting safety audits on its bus contractors

Caroline Pidgeon: Given that the Met Police’s and TfL’s own bus safety performance data show a steady increase in KSIs per quarter since you became Mayor, how do you propose to ensure that TfL’s “collaboration” with bus companies as detailed in Question 2019/20681 is effective?

The Mayor: It is not correct that KSIs involving buses have been increasing. As shown by the table below, there was a 19 per cent reduction in KSIs between 2017 and 2019, from 263 to 219.
While evenone injuryor death isone too many TfL is making good progress on our target for reducing the number of people killed or seriously injured on or by a bus.
TfL continue to work closely with the bus operators with regards to their safety and prevention work, and meet with the operator MDs and safety leads every quarter specifically to discuss safety performance. TfL also monitor their safety management systems and culture via the Assurance Programme and TfL visit the operators four times each per annum. This close working, with the shared objective of reducing death and injury on the road network, is delivering positive outcomes.
Row Labels
FATAL
SERIOUS
SLIGHT
Grand Total
KSI
KSI casualties (change from previous year/quarter)
2017
8
255
2282
2545
263
Qtr 1
61
582
643
61
Qtr 2
3
67
593
663
70
Qtr 3
2
58
587
647
60
Qtr 4
3
69
520
592
72
2018
12
229
1848
2089
241
-8%
Qtr 1
1
48
458
507
49
-20%
Qtr 2
4
66
497
567
70
0%
Qtr 3
2
58
476
536
60
0%
Qtr 4
5
57
417
479
62
-14%
2019
9
210
1467
1686
219
-9%
Qtr 1
1
47
347
395
48
-2%
Qtr 2
2
47
366
415
49
-30%
Qtr 3
2
64
419
485
66
10%
Qtr 4
4
52
335
391
56
-10%
2020
1
27
186
214
28
Qtr 1
1
27
186
214
28
-42%
Grand Total
30
721
5783
6534
751

Crossrail (1)

Keith Prince: My constituents in Havering and Redbridge remain concerned about the ongoing delays to Crossrail – can you provide them with reassurance that there will be no further delays to this vital infrastructure project?

The Mayor: Crossrail Ltd is delivering one of the world’s most complex railways which must be delivered to the highest safety and quality standards.
I share the frustration of Londoners that the Elizabeth line is not yet open. But good progress is being made with the physical works. Tunnel and track works are now finished and most stations are nearing completion.
In January the Crossrail Board announced that the central section of the Elizabeth line between Paddington and Abbey Wood will open in summer 2021. Following their latest Board meeting in February 2020, they confirmed that the project still remains on schedule.
As Mayor of London, I will continue to scrutinise and challenge the Crossrail executive to ensure that this transformational transport project is delivered as soon as possible for Londoners.

Bus Network Safety Performance Index (1)

Caroline Pidgeon: In your response to Question 2019/20678 you listed 76 key performance indicators that constitute the bus network safety performance index. Why are KPIs relating to bus driver fatigue and toilet provision not on these KPIs for this index?

The Mayor: Transport for London (TfL’s) Bus Driver Fatigue Programme began in 2019 to address the concerns raised within the Loughborough University study entitled “Bus Driver Fatigue”.
TfL is aiming to have introduced a pan-London Fatigue Risk Management Policy with every bus operator by summer 2020. This will include the need for each operator to report and record any fatigue events. In turn, TfL is currently reviewing the way in which they measure fatigue events arising, and it is likely that they will incorporate fatigue reporting into the Safety Performance Index by December 2020.
The provision of toilets has been a focus of attention for TfL over the past year, with 42 driver facilities due to be completed and installed by 31 March 2020.

Union Communication with Staff at TfL

Unmesh Desai: Please can you confirm whether TfL gives its recognised trade unions the facility to display information on staff intranet, internal social media and electronic notice boards (resources that are already used by internal and external organisations and advertisers) and if not, when this will be made available?

The Mayor: Transport for London’s (TfL) intranet currently publicises the quarterly Trade Union Fair where all seven recognised unions hold an open event to talk about the value of trade unions in the workplace. The intranet also contains specific information on the unions in London Underground and is a place where employees can access the documents that describe how TfL and the unions engage on joint consultation and collective bargaining in the interests of TfL.
A review is underway with the unions of the TfL Framework for Consultation and Collective Bargaining and the future facilities available to the unions is an important aspect of this. TfL will carefully consider any representations made to extend facilities to include displaying information on the intranet, internal social media and electronic notice boards.

Waterloo Underground station

Caroline Pidgeon: It is now over three months since the newly built York Road entrance to Waterloo Underground station closed to allow safety inspections to be carried out on the building above. Please provide an update as to (1) the reasons for the closure, (2) the outcome of any engineering inspection, and (3) the expected date that this entrance will reopen.

The Mayor: The York Road entrance to Waterloo Underground station was reopened on 13 March 2020, following the completion of all necessary checks.
This entrance was closed to allow engineering inspections and subsequent maintenance works to be undertaken to the third-party residential building above.
Due to the works taking place at the interface between the residential building and the station entrance, it was necessary to close the entrance to ensure the works could be undertaken safely and efficiently.

Transport links in South East London

Caroline Pidgeon: I have been contacted by a constituent who wishes you to address the following question: when will a night service for the Docklands Light Railway be introduced?

The Mayor: Night Tube has been a big success so far, and night services have subsequently been extended to parts of the London Overground.
Transport for London (TfL) has previously considered the case for night services on the Docklands Light Railway, but the decision was taken not to proceed as sufficient value for money could not be demonstrated.
I have asked that TfL keep this decision under regular review.

Free public transport in Luxembourg

Onkar Sahota: Luxembourg recently became the first country to provide free public transport. As you know London has high levels of air pollution which have a devastating effect on health, especially children and the infirm, many of which come from vehicles. What lessons are there for improving population health in London and the UK from Luxembourg’s bold leadership in this field?

The Mayor: Cleaning up London’s lethal air, which results in thousands of premature deaths, is one of my top priorities as Mayor. It is why I have taken bold action such as introducing the world's first Ultra Low Emission Zone in central London – which has cut toxic pollution by a third.
I am also determined to ensure public transport fares are affordable. I delivered on my promises of a 4 year Transport for London (TfL) fares freeze and the introduction of the Hopper fare, both of which are vital parts of encouraging more people out of cars and onto cleaner public transport.
I am always interested in learning what other cities are doing to improve air quality, however, the passenger income TfL receives goes toward the cost of the day-to-day-operation of transport services and capital investment to improve them. It is vital in ensuring that TfL can provide safe, efficient public transport services. These public transport services, together with the provision for walking and cycling, provide the alternatives to car use that are needed to improve air quality and people’s health.

Camden-Tottenham Cycleway

Joanne McCartney: Can you update me on the progress being made on the proposed Cycleway between Camden and Tottenham?

The Mayor: The Cycleway between Camden and Tottenham is a very significant and ambitious proposal, which, naturally presents some challenges with balancing potential impacts while providing a route which addresses safety issues and meets the cycling quality criteria.
Transport for London (TfL) undertook traffic modelling on a proposed design last year, which predicted significant impacts at a number of strategically important locations, meaning further detailed work and modelling assessments are underway. Pending the outcome of these assessments, TfL plans to consult on proposals later this year.

Don't Be Idle (2)

Tony Devenish: When will Marylebone get its first Electric Vehicle-only taxi rank?

The Mayor: Transport for London (TfL) continues to explore the concept of zero emission taxi ranks. If you are able to provide TfL officers with details of a specific location in Marylebone, they would be more than happy to explore it with the City of Westminster.

Crossrail (1)

Shaun Bailey: How often do you meet with TfL and Crossrail Ltd to discuss the ongoing work on the Elizabeth Line and what meetings have you had in 2020?

The Mayor: As Chair of Transport for London (TfL), I have clear and robust processes in place to ensure I am informed of key transport projects and issues in London, including Crossrail.
Since the arrival of the new leadership team, there has been a welcome change in transparency and openness within Crossrail. I meet with the Transport Commissioner as well as the Chair and Chief Executive of Crossrail Ltd around every six weeks; my Chief of Staff and Deputy Mayor for Transport also meet with them every fortnight; the Chief Executive and Chair of Crossrail attend all TfL Board meetings to give a comprehensive update to the Board in public and the project also provide weekly metrics to both TfL and the Department for Transport on a range of measures including safety performance and testing.
In the last two months, either myDeputy Mayor for Transport or I have attended the following meetings:

Migration salary Impact in London (5)

Leonie Cooper: What impact would the Government’s proposed £25,600 salary threshold have on the hospitality sector in London?

The Mayor: GLA Economics recently published research on the potential impacts of new immigration policies in London, drawing on data provided by the Office for National Statistics:
https://www.london.gov.uk/business-and-economy-publications/potential-impacts-skills-based-immigration-policies-london
Current Issues Note 58 explores the potential impact of different salary thresholds – including a £27,000 and £24,000 general minimum salary threshold – for jobs that meet an RQF 3 skills threshold. Appendix C provides an estimate of the number of medium and higher-skilled jobs in London which are held by EEA workers and paid below these salary thresholds by occupation. This includes a large number of jobs in ‘Food preparation and hospitality trades’.
It is important to recognise that this research does not offer definitive judgments about every aspect of the Government’s proposed new immigration system. For example, it does not take into account exceptions to the general minimum salary threshold for new entrants.

Migration salary Impact in London (4)

Leonie Cooper: What impact would the Government’s proposed £25,600 salary threshold have on the construction sector in London?

The Mayor: GLA Economics recently published research on the potential impacts of new immigration policies in London, drawing on data provided by the Office for National Statistics:
https://www.london.gov.uk/business-and-economy-publications/potential-impacts-skills-based-immigration-policies-london
Current Issues Note 58 explores the potential impact of different salary thresholds levels – including a £27,000 and £24,000 general minimum salary threshold – for jobs that meet an RQF 3 skills threshold. Appendix C provides an estimate of the number of medium and higher-skilled jobs in London which are held by EEA workers and paid below these salary thresholds by occupation. This includes a large number of jobs in ‘Construction and building trades’.
It is important to recognise that this research does not offer definitive judgments about every aspect of the Government’s proposed new immigration system. For example, the construction sector in London includes a very high share of self-employed workers, a group that would not meet the criteria for a skilled workers visa even without a salary threshold.

TfL as a landlord

Tony Devenish: Is it reasonable that a small business in West Kensington, the landlord of which is TfL, has been waiting a year for TfL to decide by how much they plan to increase his rent and to send him a backdated bill?

The Mayor: It is completely unacceptable that a tenant should wait a year for Transport for London (TfL) to begin a rent review. I understand that TfL’s property manager has visited the business and apologised. I have instructed TfL to ensure that this situation does not happen again.

Migration salary Impact in London (2)

Leonie Cooper: Does City Hall have data on the number of EU Londoners paid below the Government’s proposed £25,600 salary threshold for its points based migration system?

The Mayor: GLA Economics recently published research on the potential impacts of new immigration policies in London, drawing on data provided by the Office for National Statistics:
https://www.london.gov.uk/business-and-economy-publications/potential-impacts-skills-based-immigration-policies-london
Current Issues Note 58 explores the potential impact of different salary thresholds levels – including a £27,000 and £24,000 minimum salary threshold – for jobs that meet an RQF 3 skills threshold. Appendix C provides an estimate of the number of jobs in London which are held by workers born in the EEA and paid below these salary thresholds by occupation.
It is important to recognise that this research does not offer definitive judgments about every aspect of the Government’s proposed new immigration system. For example, it does not take into account exceptions to the general minimum salary threshold for new entrants or public sector occupations.

Taxi and Private Hire Trade (7)

David Kurten: Do you believe that app companies are operating on the wrong side of the employment laws, and if so, how are you going ensure that app companies who TfL licence are compliant with all laws?

The Mayor: I’ve always been clear that I believe private hire drivers should be treated fairly, work reasonable hours and be able to earn a decent wage, and I have pushed private hire operators to ensure that drivers are being paid the London Living Wage.
Driver pay and general working conditions were raised in the Department for Transport’s (DfT) Task and Finish Group on Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle licensing, of which Transport for London (TfL) was an active member. In its response to the Group’s report, the Government made it clear that only the courts can make rulings on employment status.
The Government did state that the decisions of tribunals and whether an operator concerned is complying with a ruling in the way the law requires, should reasonably be considered by a licensing authority as part of the 'fit and proper' test for a Private Hire Vehicle operator. TfL therefore continues to monitor relevant cases that are decided by the courts.

Crossrail (2)

Shaun Bailey: What lessons have you learned about the ongoing delays to the Elizabeth Line and how will they be applied to the planning of Crossrail 2?

The Mayor: Crossrail 2 is a vital infrastructure project for the UK and Transport for London is committed to delivering it without the delays and cost overruns that have affected the Elizabeth Line.
The Crossrail 2 team meets regularly with colleagues in Crossrail as well as other major infrastructure projects to learn lessons from their experience. A series of ‘lessons learned’ workshops have allowed the team to discuss issues such as systems integration and handover of stations, as well as the causes of delays during design and construction. The team has been using this information to develop a Crossrail 2 construction schedule that ensures that time allowances reflect experience from Crossrail and other projects. The team is also testing its plans through independent studies and assurance reviews.
At the same time the team continues to review key reports from the National Audit Office and others on the delays to the Elizabeth line and is building any recommendations into its plans.

Bus Stops Cowbridge Lane and Cowbridge Lane (SB) in Barking

Unmesh Desai: Please can you confirm whether there are any planned works by TfL to provide seating and rain cover at these two bus stops (Cowbridge Lane and Cowbridge Lane (SB)), which are used by a number of older attendees of Gurdwara Singh Sabha London East, or if not, whether such works can be undertaken and when?

The Mayor: Transport for London (TfL) and I do appreciate the benefits of bus shelters for our customers.
However, certain criteria need to be met for a shelter to be installed, which these locations on Cowbridge Lane unfortunately do not meet.
Cowbridge Lane northbound is the penultimate stop for route 368 and has a very low number of boarding passengers.
On the southbound side there are only around 50 passengers a day and a significant number of underground utilities in the area, which mean a shelter cannot be installed without a significant amount of disruptive work.

Silvertown Tunnel (5)

Andrew Boff: In a letter to the Stop the Silvertown Tunnel Coalition, you wrote:
"I am committed to reducing car dominance, improving air quality and addressing climate change. The current situation at the Blackwall Tunnel cannot continue, as it fundamentally undermines these goals."
Why do you think the solution is a project that increases motor traffic capacity in that part of London, makes air quality worse for thousands of local residents, and increases CO2 emissions?

The Mayor: As explained in my response to Mayor’s Question 2020/1067, the Silvertown Tunnel is the best solution to addressing the current situation at the Blackwall Tunnel, and this was recognised by the Planning Inspectorate and Secretary of State for Transport in granting the Development Consent Order.
The Silvertown Tunnel is vital to addressing the issues of congestion and poor reliability at the Blackwall Tunnel and the lack of viable alternative river crossings in this part of London. It will effectively eliminate congestion, deliver an overall improvement in air quality and enable a step-change in the provision of cross-river bus services.
The need for the scheme has been established for many years in the London Plan and Mayor’s Transport Strategy. Transport for London has committed to a range of control measures to ensure the delivery of the scheme’s benefits and the management of its impacts.

Silvertown Tunnel (6)

Andrew Boff: You claim that the Silvertown Tunnel scheme leads to an improvement in overall air quality. However your carbon and energy statement shows an increase of 0.4% in CO2 emissions across all of Greater London with the tunnel built, over doing nothing, Presumably this increase is a result of increased fuel burn. How does more fuel burnt produce better air, overall?

The Mayor: Please see my response to Mayor’s Question 2020/1067.

Silvertown Tunnel (7)

Andrew Boff: You claim an overall improvement in air quality after Silvertown, even though air gets worse in many places. Have you looked at the interaction of this new pollution distribution with population distribution, to understand whether Silvertown will lead to better or worse health outcomes?

The Mayor: The air quality assessment for Silvertown Tunnel specifically looks at how concentrations in air quality change at receptors, such as homes and schools, and therefore does consider the interaction of population and air quality effects. In addition to this, Transport for London have undertaken a Health and Equalities Impact Assessment, which assesses the impact of changes in air quality on health.
As stated in my response to Mayor’s Question 2020/1067, it is important to note the further steps of monitoring and mitigation that are now planned. The existing assessments were undertaken prior to April 2016, and do not take into account a number of measures that are now committed, which will further improve air quality for those worst affected.

Lambeth/Southwark healthy Streets Cycling Scheme (1)

Andrew Boff: Lambeth has completed its consultation on its side of the joint Lambeth/Southwark Healthy Streets Cycling Scheme, whilst Southwark’s consultation is ongoing. What consideration was given to TfL holding a single consultation to cover the whole scheme?

The Mayor: Though these schemes contribute significantly towards the development of Cycleways, they are being delivered separately by each borough, and will support local aspirations for wider benefits. As such, projects across the different boroughs are at different stages and levels of complexity. Transport for London (TfL) is closely involved to ensure consistency and coherence across the final schemes.
The London Borough of Lambeth and TfL recently undertook public engagement regarding the proposed Rosendale Road improvements between Brockwell Park and Gipsy Hill, which included consultation between 27 January 2020 to 29 February 2020. There has also been previous engagement and consultation for Rosendale Road, in 2015, 2016 and 2017.
The London Borough of Southwark is currently engaging with residents regarding reducing through traffic along residential roads in the area. This is also to support the delivery of a high quality cycleway, which meets the Cycling Quality Criteria developed by TfL. This recent engagement opened on 28 January 2020 and will close on 29 March 2020. This is the third phase of engagement that the Council is completing over the course of a year.

Lambeth/Southwark Healthy Streets Cycling Scheme (2)

Andrew Boff: Does the Mayor recognise the inherent problem of holding two consultations on the Lambeth/Southwark Healthy Streets Cycling Scheme as if the schemes are separate, given that the schemes are intrinsically linked and will have a collective massive impact across the wider community that straddles both boroughs?

The Mayor: Please see my response to Mayor’s Question 2020/1074.
In addition, the Southwark scheme will have its strategic traffic modelling audited by Transport for London to assess the impact on roads around the area. This modelling will include the London Borough of Lambeth’s proposals for Rosendale Road.

Signposting Customers to London Travelwatch

Jennette Arnold: How will TfL be improving its processes so that complainants are signposted to other agencies (such as London Travelwatch) when TfL are unable to provide a solution which satisfies the complainant?

The Mayor: Transport for London (TfL) currently provides the contact details of London TravelWatch (LTW) or the Local Government Ombsudsman (LGO) to any customer who is dissatisfied with TfL’s substantive response to a complaint. TfL also makes customers aware of the steps to follow online via https://tfl.gov.uk/help-and-contact/taking-your-complaint-further. The GLA also refers to these organisations as appropriate.
TfL ensures that all staff in its contact centre are briefed on the role of both LTW and the LGO so that these organisations can provide customers with this information consistently.

Lambeth/Southwark Healthy Streets Cycling Scheme (4)

Andrew Boff: Once an impact assessment on the whole Lambeth/Southwark Healthy Streets Cycling Scheme is complete, will the Mayor commit to carrying out a cross-borough consultation on the whole scheme?

The Mayor: Please see my response to Mayor’s Question 2020/1074.

Old Oak Common

Tony Devenish: What in-depth work has been done to allay fears that 250,000 passengers a day at the Old Oak Common HS2 super-hub will not overwhelm surrounding urban village streetscapes, including both roads and pavements?

The Mayor: Transport for London (TfL) is working with the Department for Transport, HS2 Limited and the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC) to ensure designs for Old Oak Common station can meet the needs of future public transport users and local communities. TfL’s understanding is that a large proportion of passengers using the station will interchange between HS2, Great Western and Elizabeth line services.
HS2 Limited is also working closely with the OPDC and the London Boroughs of Ealing and Hammersmith & Fulham to develop designs that enable an appropriate bus, cycling and walking network in order to serve the needs of the station and the wider community.
It is likely this will evolve as the OPDC looks to provide greater detail to underpin its aspirations for regeneration.

Brownhill Road/Torridon Road junction

Caroline Pidgeon: Does TfL have any plans to make this junction fully accessible for pedestrians with pedestrian controlled lights on each of the four sides of this junction?

The Mayor: Transport for London (TfL) has plans to improve the junction between Brownhill Road and Torridon Road. Design work on a new pedestrian crossing at this junction is almost complete and there will be engagement with local people in the coming months, ahead of construction starting later this year.
TfL’s plans include pedestrian-controlled lights on three of the four arms of this junction. Pedestrian signals will not be installed on the fourth arm of the junction due to the risks posed to pedestrians by vehicles accessing a driveway in that location.
These improvements will make it safer for people to cross this busy junction to access bus stops on the A205 either side of Torridon Road, local shops, and other amenities.

Stay put suspension (1)

Andrew Dismore: How many buildings in each borough have Stay Put suspended for reasons of ACM cladding? Please break this down by social and private sector.

The Mayor: London Fire Brigade is aware of 120 ACM-cladded buildings that have changed their evacuation strategy from stay put to simultaneous evacuation. Of those, 88 are within the private sector and 32 are within the social sector.
Borough
Private
Social
Total
Barking and Dagenham
0
1
1
Barnet
2
1
3
Bexley
0
0
0
Brent
1
11
12
Bromley
0
1
1
Camden
1
0
1
City of London
0
0
0
Croydon
1
2
3
Ealing
3
0
3
Fulham
0
0
0
Greenwich
7
0
7
Hackney
1
4
5
Harrow
1
0
1
Havering
1
0
1
Hillingdon
0
0
0
Hounslow
0
0
0
Islington
5
1
6
Kensington and Chelsea
1
0
1
Lambeth
0
2
2
Lewisham
0
0
0
Newham
6
1
7
Redbridge
0
0
0
Richmond
0
0
0
Southwark
0
5
5
Sutton
0
0
0
Tower Hamlet
35
1
36
Waltham Forest
0
1
1
Wandsworth
13
1
14
Westminster
10
0
10

TOTALS: 88
32
120

Stay put suspension (2)

Andrew Dismore: How many buildings in each borough have Stay Put suspended for reasons other than ACM cladding? Please break this down by social and private sector.

The Mayor: In total, London Fire Brigade is aware of 166 buildings that have changed their evacuation strategy from stay put to simultaneous for reasons other than ACM cladding. Of those, 88 are within the private sector and 78 are within the social sector.
Borough
Private
Social
Total
Barking and Dagenham
3
0
3
Barnet
0
0
0
Bexley
0
1
1
Brent
14
0
14
Bromley
0
0
0
Camden
3
1
4
City of London
1
0
1
Croydon
2
4
6
Ealing
2
0
2
Fulham
0
2
2
Greenwich
11
0
11
Hackney
3
26
29
Harrow
1
0
1
Havering
7
0
7
Hillingdon
1
0
1
Hounslow
1
0
1
Islington
2
2
4
Kensington and Chelsea
1
1
2
Lambeth
0
0
0
Lewisham
6
6
12
Newham
7
5
12
Redbridge
1
0
1
Richmond
1
0
1
Southwark
6
5
11
Sutton
9
17
26
Tower Hamlets
0
8
8
Waltham Forest
0
0
0
Wandsworth
0
0
0
Westminster
6
0
6
TOTAL
88
78
166

Taxi and Private Hire Trade (3)

David Kurten: Do you accept that your taxi policy has caused a deterioration in the overall mental health of taxi drivers?

The Mayor: No. Taxis have a long and proud history in the capital. I want to ensure this rapidly changing industry and the customers it serves are fully supported, both now and in the future, and I committed to this in my Taxi and Private Hire Action Plan. My Plan has seen a host of measures delivered, including a number of new initiatives to help support the taxi trade. My response to Mayor’s Question 2020/1059 provides further details.
Transport for London (TfL) takes the mental health and overall wellbeing of taxi and private hire licensees very seriously. TfL is also clear that for their own wellbeing, it is vital that anyone who feels that they are struggling with a mental health issue should seek professional help and support which should be provided by the appropriate medical services. I am confident that TfL has worked with the taxi and private hire trade to ensure that licensees are able to find appropriate mental health and overall wellbeing support should they require it.

School exclusions

Len Duvall: If children expelled from school are more likely to be involved in crime, when can we expect the Violence Reduction Unit to set some objectives and metrics for how it plans to improve the way exclusions are managed in the future in London?

The Mayor: We need to reverse the trend that has seen a rise in permanent exclusions in England since 2012/13. We know it affects the most vulnerable children in society and risks abandoning them, damaging their life prospects, and bringing them into contact with violence – either as victims of it or as perpetrators.
The VRU’s role is an influencing one, using evidence and insight to inform an evidence base to advocate for a systemic change approach on exclusions.
The Unit has launched the Supporting Inclusive Schools programme. Sixteen boroughs were selected to participate, based on local crime and public health data, and the VRU’s assessment on potential for the greatest impact.
Each borough was required to select schools that have higher than average exclusion rates. Around 200 schools could benefit from this programme. I expect to find improvements in attendance, attainment, and behaviour, leading fewer children to be excluded.

Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) work with Pupil referral units

Len Duvall: How is the VRU working with Pupil Referral Units?

The Mayor: The period after school is a particularly high-risk period for vulnerable children. As a result, the VRU has been able to offer up to £40,000 to 16 priority boroughs for one year (April 2020 to March 2021) for the provision of after school activity between 15:00 and 19:00. This fund can also be used to support weekend and holiday activities and much is directed towards activities for young people in pupil referral units.
In addition to the funding, the Unit are visiting and working with PRUs and recently hosted a roundtable with education specialists which included identifying good practice in supporting young people in PRUs. Furthermore, working with a variety of other organisations, the VRU is developing a peer mentorship scheme for young people in PRUs to ensure that every pupil has a trusted adult in their life.

Capita performance (2)

Andrew Dismore: How many hours in total has the Capita mobilising system used by the London Fire Brigade been non-functional since its introduction?

The Mayor: For the 18 occasions between November 2015 and February 2020 when there was unplanned service downtime with the Vision mobilising system (please see my response to Mayor's Question 2020/1341), the total time the system was not available was 56 hours and 58 minutes.

Capita performance (3)

Andrew Dismore: How many times has an engineer been required to attend London Fire Brigade’s control rooms to deal with a problem with the Capita mobilising system?

The Mayor: There is no specific data captured or held about the number of times engineers visit London Fire Brigade (LFB) control locations. Capita provide a wide range of support to the Vision mobilising solution including maintaining terminals used by Control staff at the London Operations Centre (and back-up control room), as well as the core mobilising servers, and supporting systems - Capita engineers therefore visit LFB’s control locations frequently. Engineers can also resolve issues remotely, so it is not always necessary to visit LFB premises.

TfL fire hazards (2)

Andrew Dismore: For each bus depot operating TfL services in London, how many a) notices of deficiency and b) enforcement notices have been received from London Fire Brigade in each year from 2010 to the present?

The Mayor: From its regular discussions with bus operators, Transport for London is not aware of any depots being issued with notices of deficiency or enforcement notices from the London Fire Brigade during this time.

Capita performance (1)

Andrew Dismore: How many times in each year since the introduction of London Fire Brigade’s Capita mobilising system has it crashed for a) less than one hour and b) longer than one hour?

The Mayor: The data for ‘unplanned service downtime’ of the Vision mobilising system is set out in the table below:
Vision mobilising system
Unplanned Service Downtime (USD)
Less than one hour
More than one hour
2015 (part November/December only)
0
0
2016
3
5
2017
3
3
2018
3
0
2019
0
0
2020 (to end February 2020)
0
1

Visits to buildings with stay put suspended (1)

Andrew Dismore: How often do London Fire Brigade crews visit buildings where stay put is suspended?

The Mayor: London Fire Brigade crews are informed when a premises on their station ground has a change of evacuation strategy, moving from stay put to simultaneous evacuation. Crews are provided with advice and guidance in relation to visiting the premises and ensuring that the waking watch is in place and functioning as per National Fire Chief Council’s (NFCC) guidance. Each watch on the station is directed to carry out familiarisation visits to the property and meet with the waking watch. For the first month this is at a rate of one visit per watch each week; from the second month onwards, this moves to two visits per month.

Visits to buildings with stay put suspended (2)

Andrew Dismore: How many buildings is each London Fire Brigade station responsible for visiting owing to the suspension of stay put at those sites?

The Mayor: The number of buildings the London Fire Brigade is responsible for visiting owing to the suspension of the buildings’ stay strategy in each station ground is shown in the following table.
Station Ground
Number
Acton
1
Barking
4
Battersea
7
Bethnal Green
7
Brixton
2
Bromley
1
Chelsea
2
Clapham
3
Croydon
5
Dagenham
1
Deptford
2
Dockhead
4
Dowgate
3
Downham
2
Ealing
2
East Greenwich
6
East Ham
1
Erith
1
Euston
2
Fulham
2
Greenwich
7
Harrow
1
Heathrow
1
Heston
1
Holloway
5
Homerton
12
Ilford
1
Islington
3
Kensington
1
Kentish Town
1
Kingsland
3
Lambeth
3
Lewisham
5
Mill Hill
2
New Malden
25
Norbury
3
North Kensington
6
Northolt
1
Old Kent Road
4
Paddington
10
Park Royal
3
Peckham
5
Plaistow
2
Plumstead
9
Poplar
28
Richmond
1
Romford
7
Shadwell
2
Shoreditch
21
Soho
4
Southall
1
Stanmore
4
Stoke Newington
4
Stratford
16
Sutton
1
Tottenham
1
Walthamstow
1
Wandsworth
4
Wembley
8
West Hampstead
3
Whitechapel
3
Willesden
4
Woodside
1
Total:
286

Capita performance (4)

Andrew Dismore: What is the average a) inner London and b) outer London attendance times for first and second appliances when London Fire Brigade Control Rooms are mobilising by hand due to a problem with the Capita mobilising system?

The Mayor: London Fire Brigade’s attendance time to incidents is calculated from the point a Control officer mobilises the first resource to an incident, so recorded attendance times should be unaffected by secondary (manual) mobilising arrangements. It could take slightly longer for control staff to mobilise appliances manually, but no specific data is captured about this performance.
In the time available, it has not been possible to collate the attendance times for every period when the Vision mobilising system was unavailable, but the London Fire Brigade (LFB) will write to you with the full analysis once it has been completed. Attendance times for inner and outer London on 15 February 2020 (when the Vision system was unavailable for 3 hours 17 minutes from 5am) are as set out in the table below (with comparable data from the same day in 2019).
First appliance
Second appliance
Inner London
Outer London
Inner London
Outer London
15 February 2019
04:53
05:25
06:25
07:25
15 February 2020
04:49
05:24
06:02
06:28

LFB policy note review completion

Andrew Dismore: Please provide the expected publication date for London Fire Brigade updated policy notes 790, 633, and 539.

The Mayor: Revised policy note 633 (PN 633) High Rise Firefighting was the subject of a London Fire Commissioner decision covering report and policy published on the 12 February 2020. The adoption date of 31 July 2020 for operational response is to allow time for operational staff to be trained in the policy.
Revised policy note 790 (PN 790) Fire Survival Guidance Calls is approaching its final draft stage, and is planned for release for formal consultation on 16 March, with an expected publication date of June 2020.
Policy note 539 (PN 539)Emergency Call Management is being replaced in its entirety, with the appendix relating to Fire Survival Guidance being incorporated into the revised PN 790. There are a number of appendices to PN 539, which are being systematically replaced with more robust policy notes specifically relating to Control (the first one being Fire Survival Guidance). It is anticipated that PN 539 will become obsolete by the end of the year as the appendices are replaced with new substantive policy notes.

60+ London Oyster photocard

Caroline Pidgeon: I understand that people who apply for a 60+ London Oyster photocard are given the option to tick a box for London Councils to get in touch with the person nearer the time they are eligible for a Freedom Pass. Please state how many people in 2019 ticked this box and whether any consideration has been given to making it clearer of the benefits of allowing London Councils to get in contact with people to inform them of their eligibility for the Freedom Pass.

The Mayor: In 2019, there were 91,522 applicants for a 60+ Oyster photocard. Of these, 58,959 opted to share their details with London Councils.
People, of course, have the right to withhold their information if they choose to and the numbers above suggest that the majority of applicants do understand the benefits of allowing London Councils to get in touch. I have though asked Transport for London to review their website for any improvements that might be made.

Migration salary Impact in London (3)

Leonie Cooper: What impact would the Government’s proposed £25,600 salary threshold have on the social care sector in London?

The Mayor: According to IPPR’s research, 66 per centof Health and Social Work roles will be ineligible for the new points-based system.
GLA Economics recently published research on the potential impacts of new immigration policies in London, drawing on data provided by the Office for National Statistics:
https://www.london.gov.uk/business-and-economy-publications/potential-impacts-skills-based-immigration-policies-london
Current Issues Note 58 shows that most roles within ‘Caring personal services’ will become ineligible for visas if the skilled worker route only covers occupations at RQF level 3 and above. Although some senior roles within the social care sector could still be eligible for work visas subject to the minimum salary threshold, the numbers of jobs in these roles in London was too low for detailed analysis of salary thresholds to be undertaken.

20 mph speed limits on London's roads (4)

Caroline Russell: What percentage, and how many kilometres of the Transport for London Road Network (TLRN) had a 20 mph speed limit when you entered office, and what percentage will have this limit by May 2020?

The Mayor: In June 2016 approximately two per cent of roads operated by Transport for London (TfL) had a 20mph speed limit, which equates to 18km of carriageway*.
Currently, as of March 2020, approximately seven per cent of TfL’s roads operate with a 20mph speed limit, which equates to 62km of carriageway*. This number includes early delivery of my Vision Zero commitment to introduce 20mph on all TfL roads in central London, by May 2020 (http://content.tfl.gov.uk/vision-zero-action-plan.pdf).
I do not expect this to change before May 2020.
*the lengths quoted refer to the carriageway length in each direction

Migration Salary Impact in Outer London

Fiona Twycross: Do you share my concerns that the Government’s proposed £25,600 salary threshold for its points-based migration system may disproportionately harm Outer London boroughs where employers typically pay lower salaries than their inner London counterparts?

The Mayor: Research for the Financial Times finds 10 per cent of all employees in Outer London — more than 200,000 people — are EU nationals who would not be eligible to work in the UK under the new rules making it the region most exposed to potential labour supply issues post-Brexit.
https://www.ft.com/content/56c95706-54c4-11ea-8841-482eed0038b1
GLA Economics recently published research on the potential impacts of new immigration policies in London, drawing on data provided by the Office for National Statistics. However, it was not possible to include the impacts on outer versus inner London in the scope of the research:
https://www.london.gov.uk/business-and-economy-publications/potential-impacts-skills-based-immigration-policies-london
Current Issues Note 59 shows that the impact of a reduction in the availability of EEA workers is not only a function of the skills and salary thresholds faced by different occupations but also depends on the characteristics of an occupation, industry and wider economic factors.

Schools engaged with through the Violence Reduction Unit

Len Duvall: How many secondary schools is the Violence Reduction Unit actively working with in London as part of its work to reduce school exclusions? Please provide this information by borough.

The Mayor: The VRU has launched the Supporting Inclusive Schools programme. Sixteen boroughs were selected to participate, based on local crime and public health data, and the VRU’s assessment on potential for the greatest impact.
Each borough will run four initiatives that will: promote healthy relationships; support the transition from primary to secondary school; create a nurturing whole-school environment; and provide after-school provision to young, vulnerable people.
Each borough was required to select schools that have higher than average exclusion rates. Around 200 schools could benefit from this programme. I expect to find improvements in attendance, attainment, and behaviour, leading fewer children to be excluded.
As a public health approach to reducing secondary school exclusions would recognise the importance of interventions that also include primary schools, and other stakeholders like PRUs too.

Lambeth/Southwark Heathy Streets Cycling Scheme (3)

Andrew Boff: Will the Mayor intervene to put the ongoing Southwark consultation on hold and ensure that work such as air quality impact assessment studies, traffic modelling including bus journey time impacts and an Equalities Impact Assessment are completed across the wider area?

The Mayor: This scheme will include strategic modelling to assess reassignment of traffic, which will be audited by Transport for London (TfL) and will also include the London Borough of Lambeth’s proposals for Rosendale Road. This modelling can only be completed once a single option is provided following the early engagement that the London Borough of Southwark are undertaking. While no formal air quality impact assessment is planned, LB Southwark and TfL will monitor the air quality around the wider area before and after the scheme.
The scheme’s Equality Impact Assessment will be continually updated by LB Southwark throughout the lifecycle of the project.

Free Travel for Nurses

Navin Shah: Following the Royal College of Nursing’s cost of living report, what plans, if any, do you have to offer free travel to nurses in the same way there is free travel for police officers?

The Mayor: Transport for London (TfL) provides free travel to the British Transport Police, City of London Police and Metropolitan Police in recognition of our partnership and funding arrangements with these forces to police the transport network in London.
I am committed to keeping London affordable for everyone and believe that the cost of travel shouldn’t be a barrier to working, studying or enjoying life in London. That’s why I am doing what I can to ensure travel remains affordable for all Londoners - including freezing TfL fares since 2016, introducing weekly capping, creating the Hopper fare and protecting existing concessions.
TfL is heavily reliant on fare revenue to keep London moving, especially so since the removal of its £700 million annual Government grant. This means there are no plans to provide free travel to nurses.

London Fire Brigade (LFB) command unit recommissioning

Andrew Dismore: How many command units are being procured for LFB and where will they be based?

The Mayor: All eight Command Units (CUs) plus the one existing reserve are being replaced. The new locations for CUs will be Plaistow, Holloway, Park Royal, Forest Hill, Richmond, Mitcham, Dockhead fire stations and one CU will be located at the London Operations Centre (LOC) Brigade Control. The reserve CU will be held at Ruislip.

Statement contained in your 1 October Letter to London Assembly Chair Jennette Arnold rejecting the 4 July London Assembly Croydon Tram Motion

Caroline Pidgeon: In your letter of 1 October 2019 rejecting the London Assembly motion requesting an independent investigation to discover why TfL failed to provide IA 17780 to the Croydon Crash Investigation, you stated that the document IA 17780 was a "single report, which was commissioned following a separate incident on the tram network in May 2017”.  In documents released under Question 2019/17339 a 8 June 2017 email from a Senior TfL HSE Manager to First Group Tram Operations Limited specifically states “It is perhaps worth pointing out that whilst this work is partly in response to the incident last period, it is not an investigation into that event and so we will not be asking for specific information about that Individual or sequence of events relating to the incident.” Will you accept that IA 17780 was an Internal Audit of First Group TOL’s entire fatigue management system and not a “single report relating to a single incident” as you have implied in your 1 October 2019 letter?

The Mayor: The IA 17780 was a single report commissioned following a separate incident on the tram network in May 2017 and so the statement you quote is correct. As set out in the report, the Audit objective for 17 780 was to provide assurance on the effectiveness of Tram Operations Limited’s (TOL’s) fatigue management arrangements. The scope was stated to be focused on the control environment in relation to the following key risk areas:
The audit also considered TOL’s Fatigue Risk Management System with respect to the Office of Rail and Road guidance – Managing Rail Staff Fatigue.

Unsuitable Break Facilities on TfL Bus Routes

Keith Prince: In your response to Question 2020/0745, you stated “Transport for London (TfL) is aware of a small number of locations where facilities for drivers to take breaks are not suitable.” Please identify the Bus Route involved and the reasons why these locations are designated “not suitable”.

The Mayor: Transport for London (TfL) is currently working with its bus operators and the union, Unite, to identify the most pressing areas for suitable facilities where drivers can take a break. I have asked that TfL provide you with an update on this work once it has been finalised.
TfL has already improved working conditions for bus drivers, with many new prioritised bus driver toilets near the end of under-served routes.